Fahim, Tamim propel Barishal to BPL playoffs

Fortune Barishal became the second team after Rangpur Riders to confirm the playoffs of Bangladesh Premier League, BPL, after securing an eight-wicket win over Sylhet Strikes at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Sylhet on Sunday, January 26.
Pakistan recruit Fahim Ashraf and captain Tamim Iqbal were instrumental in the facile victory that helped them retain the second spot with seven wins from nine matches. Rangpur Riders continue to top the table.
Fahim Ashraf claimed five wickets for just seven runs after bowling 3.1 overs as Barishal skittled Sylhet out for just 116 in 18.1 overs.
Tamim Iqbal then powered the side to the victory in just 16 overs, hammering 51 ball-52.
He hit the winning boundary that steered the side to 120-2 and also confirmed his 54th half-century in T20s.
Despite being promoted to the opening spot, Towhid Hridoy failed to regain his form as he was dismissed for just 6 and Dawin Malan followed him with 9, leaving Barishal 39-2 after the first powerplay.
Tamim Iqbal steadied the innings with typically calm fashion, ably supported by Mushfiqur Rahim. They added 81 runs for the unbeaten third wickets to help the side cruise to the victory with Mushfiqur hitting 30 ball-42 not out with four fours and one six.
A victory in the match, could keep Sylhet's playoffs hopes mathematically alive if they win the game but they put another horrendous performance to be out for paltry total. The defeat further languished them at bottom table and ended their all hopes of playing the playoffs.
After electing to bat first, most of their batters played wretched shots to script their own downfall. The top three batters that included the likes of George Munsey, Rony Ralukdar and Zakir Hasan were dismissed in single digit figure, leaving the side at 34-3 and the situation further worsened when their new foreign recruit Kadeem Alleyne was out for two ball-duck in his first outing for the franchise.
Another new recruit Ahsan Bhatti took some responsibility amid the carnage of Fahim Ashraf to make team-high 29.
Fahim, however, ripped through middle order with his gentle medium pace bowling, denying Sylhet batters to make a rebuilding job after the top order faltered.
Nonetheless, Jaker Ali Anik put some resistance with 19 ball-24 that helped the side go past the 100-run mark.
Mohammad Nabi and James Fuller took two wickets apiece to complement Fahim Ashraf's five-wicket haul.
Source: BSS